Elizabeth Maruma Mrema of Tanzania appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The UN Secretary-General has appointed Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema of Tanzania as the Executive Secretary,  of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, based in Montreal, Canada.

”It is my great honour to assume the leadership of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity at this critical time for biodiversity, .My immediate priority is to ensure successful negotiations in developing a robust and ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework.” -- Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, 

Since December 2019, Ms. Mrema has been the Acting Executive Secretary of the CBD Secretariat. 

 Prior to that, Ms. Mrema served as Director of the Law Division at the United Nations Environment  Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya.  

She has over two decades of experience at the United Nations, Ms. Mrema brings to the position extensive experience in global environmental law and policymaking, implementation of environmental and sustainable development programmes, and a deep knowledge of multilateral processes.  

From 2009 to 2012, she served as the Executive Secretary of the UNEP/Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals as well as served as the Acting Executive Secretary of the UNEP/ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas) as well as Interim Executive Secretary of the UNEP/Gorilla Agreement, all based in Bonn, Germany.  

 Before joining UNEP, Ms. Mrema worked with United Republic of Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. During her time with the Ministry, she also lectured in Public International Law and Conference Diplomacy at Tanzania's Centre for Foreign Relations and Diplomacy.  

 Note from Felix: I have had the pleasure of working with Elizabeth in the past and I can't imagine a better person to run the CBD than her. Not only does she understand the issues but has a passion for international law and the role it can play. She has shown great support for stakeholders and so those engaged with the CBD will have someone who appreciates the role stakeholders can play in helping governments to make better policy and help they then to deliver through partnerships. The CBD has a vital role to play in mobilising the world to stop the biodiversity loss.

In 2007, she received the first-ever UNEP-wide Best Manager of the Year Award, the UNEP Baobab Staff Award, for exceptional performance and dedication towards achieving the Organization’s goals

 

Please join us in welcoming her in taking this position and wishing her much success.